Colossians 3:5
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The list of sins like "sexual immorality, impurity, and passion" aren't just external actions; they are the very desires and cravings of our "earthly members" that need to be "put to death." This means confronting the deep-seated appetites within us, not just the outward expressions.
Having just established that believers have died with Christ and their true life is hidden with Him, Paul now draws a crucial, practical implication: they must actively put to death the sinful desires and actions that still try to assert themselves from their earthly nature. He lists specific vices like sexual immorality, impurity, and destructive desires, culminating in covetousness, which he identifies as a form of idolatry because it places material possessions above God.
Paul doesn't mince words here. He uses a strong verb that means 'to put to death.' What does this radical call to action really mean for our daily lives?
The word Paul uses, 'mortify,' isn't about a gentle suggestion or a minor adjustment. It's a command to actively 'put to death' the sinful desires and actions that belong to our old, earthly selves.
A Fierce Battle
Rooted in Identity
Paul lists specific sins, but look closely – they're not just isolated actions. They reveal a deeper condition of the heart.
Paul doesn't just list 'bad things to do.' He moves from outward actions to inward desires, showing how they're interconnected and stem from the same root.
From Acts to Affections
Understand the original words
nekrōsate · Greek Verb
A decisive, active rejection and mortification of sinful impulses; it requires the ongoing empowerment of the Holy Spirit to kill the influence of the flesh and sinful nature.
porneian · Greek Noun
Any form of illicit sexual activity or unchastity that falls outside the boundaries of the marriage covenant as defined by God.
akatharsian · Greek Noun
Moral uncleanness, defilement, or corruption in a person's behavior, speech, or inner character, standing in direct contrast to divine holiness.
pathos · Greek Noun
An intense, uncontrolled, or sinful desire; often refers to strong, destructive cravings that overwhelm a person’s moral judgment and draw them away from obedience to God.
This passage directly links the idea of 'putting to death' (mortifying) the desires and sinful tendencies of our earthly nature, echoing the command in Colossians 3:5. It shows the spiritual consequence of indulging these desires.
Galatians 5:24This verse speaks of 'crucifying the flesh with its passions and desires,' which is a powerful parallel to the 'mortifying your members' in Colossians 3:5. It highlights the active, decisive action required against sinful desires.
Ephesians 5:3-5This passage is a very close parallel, also listing 'sexual immorality, impurity, or any kind of greed' and explicitly stating that 'anyone greedy has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.' This reinforces the severity of covetousness as a sin akin to idolatry.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10This passage lists many of the same vices mentioned in Colossians 3:5 (sexual immorality, impurity, greed) and warns that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God, underscoring the seriousness of these earthly desires.
Matthew 6:24This verse presents a stark choice between serving God and serving 'money' (which represents earthly possessions and desires). It illuminates why Paul calls covetousness 'idolatry' in Colossians 3:5, as it places material wealth in the place that rightly belongs to God.
henryColossians 3:5-11: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
3:5-11 It is our duty to mortify our members which incline to the things of the world. Mortify them, kill them, suppress them, as weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them. Continual opposition must be made to all corrupt workings, and no provision made for carnal indulgences. Occasions of sin must be…
vincentColossians 3:5: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
Mortify (νεκρώσατε)Only here, Romans 4:19; Hebrews 11:12. Mortify is used in its literal sense of put to death. So Erasmus: "Christ was mortified and killed." And Shakespeare:" - his wildness mortified in him,Seemed to die too.""1 Henry V., 1, 26"Members (μέλη)See on Romans 6:13. The physical members, so far as they…
The list of sins like "sexual immorality, impurity, and passion" aren't just external actions; they are the very desires and cravings of our "earthly members" that need to be "put to death." This means confronting the deep-seated appetites within us, not just the outward expressions.
Having just established that believers have died with Christ and their true life is hidden with Him, Paul now draws a crucial, practical implication: they must actively put to death the sinful desires and actions that still try to assert themselves from their earthly nature. He lists specific vices like sexual immorality, impurity, and destructive desires, culminating in covetousness, which he identifies as a form of idolatry because it places material possessions above God.
Having just established that believers have died with Christ and their true life is hidden with Him, Paul now draws a crucial, practical implication: they must actively put to death the sinful desires and actions that still try to assert themselves from their earthly nature. He lists specific vices like sexual immorality, impurity, and destructive desires, culminating in covetousness, which he identifies as a form of idolatry because it places material possessions above God.
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Paul makes a striking connection: covetousness is idolatry. What makes the desire for 'stuff' so fundamentally an act of worship?
Calling covetousness 'idolatry' is a powerful indictment. It means that when we covet, we are essentially setting up something in our lives that is taking God's rightful place.
God's Place is Taken
The Earthly Anchor
epithymian kakēn · Greek Noun and Adjective
The root movement of the heart toward what is sinful, forbidden, or against God’s will; it represents the corrupt inclination of the human nature before it is acted upon.
pleonexian · Greek Noun
The insatiable, sinful greed or intense desire for more, especially for what belongs to others; it is condemned as a form of worshiping created things rather than the Creator.
eidōlolatria · Greek Noun
The sin of elevating any created thing, person, or self-interest above God, making it an object of worship, devotion, or ultimate trust.
"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." — The list of sins like "sexual immorality, impurity, and passion" aren't just external actions; they are the very desires and cravings of our "earthly members" that need to be "put to death." This mea…
